The xx @ Triple Rock Social Club

South London three (formerly four) piece band the xx made their triumphant live debut in Minneapolis Monday night to an adoring sold out crowd at the Triple Rock Social Club. The group, playing a good portion of their excellent debut self titled album, were clearly the band of the night, even though they were “opening” for Friendly Fires. The very young (early 20s) band played their sleek and sexy songs under a shroud of darkness in their all black attire. The band, featuring Jamie Smith, Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim, built their sound around Croft’s minimalistic guitar and Smith and Sim’s chilly rhythm section. The bass lines rattled the walls of the Triple Rock and the drums, pumped from samples and electronic drum machines, provided a sterile back beat that perfectly matched the brooding and tense lyrics and vocals that really drive the bands sound. For a young band riding high on a wave of hype, the xx showed lots of poise and really impressed on their first visit to the Twin Cities. For the unlucky folks who missed out on this show, the band will be coming back in April with the excellent Swedish group jj for what should be another great show at the Varsity Theater.

Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia

Also: The xx “xx” Review